Review of Maintenance Strategies For Achieving Sustainable Developments In Tropical Climates

Buildings, like almost all physical objects degrade over time due to a combination of factors. The deterioration affects all components and parts of the building in different ways, gradually reducing the quality of the structure and adversely impacting the building’s ability to effectively perform its basic functions in an environment. This paper relied on a systematic review of published literatures in reputable databases to examine how building developments and public environments can be designed in tropical climates to require minimal maintenance activities to enhance the ease of executing such activities. 39 open access published documents were reviewed. Data sieved from the publications were content analysed and descriptively presented in themes. The study identified principles and methods which can be implemented in the design of buildings with a focus on maintainability towards enhancing the development of sustainable public buildings and environments in tropical climates. The review promotes maintenance culture and emphasises increased consideration for maintenance in building design, which further helps to promote the eleventh target of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that aims at the development of resilient, safe and sustainable communities, cities and human settlements. The paper is instructive to researchers, scholars, students of architecture and building design, as well as policy makers on issues surrounding the principles of designing for maintainability, particularly in tropical settings

Ethnic differences in blood lipids and dietary intake between UK children of black African, black Caribbean, South Asian, and white European origin: the Child Heart and Health Study in England (CHASE).

BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) rates are lower in UK black Africans and black Caribbeans and higher in South Asians when compared with white Europeans. Ethnic differences in lipid concentrations may play a part in these differences. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate blood lipid and dietary patterns in UK children from different ethnic groups. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study in 2026 UK children (including 285 black Africans, 188 black Caribbeans, 534 South Asians, and 512 white Europeans) attending primary schools in London, Birmingham, and Leicester. We measured fasting blood lipid concentrations and collected 24-h dietary recalls. RESULTS: In comparison with white Europeans, black African children had lower total cholesterol (-0.14 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.25, -0.04 mmol/L), LDL-cholesterol (-0.10 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.20, -0.01 mmol/L), and triglyceride concentrations (proportional difference: -0.11 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.16, -0.06 mmol/L); HDL-cholesterol concentrations were similar. Lower saturated fat intakes (-1.4%; 95% CI: -1.9%, -0.9%) explained the differences between total and LDL cholesterol. Black Caribbean children had total, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations similar to those for white Europeans, with slightly lower saturated fat intakes. South Asian children had total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations similar to those for white Europeans, lower HDL-cholesterol concentrations (-0.7 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.11, -0.03 mmol/L), and elevated triglyceride concentrations (proportional difference: 0.14 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.20 mmol/L); higher polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat intakes did not explain these lipid differences. CONCLUSIONS: Only black African children had a blood lipid profile and associated dietary pattern likely to protect against future IHD. The loss of historically lower LDL-cholesterol concentrations among UK black Caribbeans and South Asians may have important adverse consequences for future IHD risk in these groups

Dataset of mechanical, marshall and rheological properties of crumb rubber – Bio-oil modified hot mix asphalt for sustainable pavement works

This data article presents information on the modification of bitumen with bio-oil pyrolyzed from cassava peels,and upgraded with a non-degradable polymer i.e. crumb rubber.Performance tests were carried out on the bio-oil crumb rubber modified bitumen. The main objective of bitumen modification is to produce new binders with improved mechanical,marshall and rheological properties. The percentage of bio-oil by volume used for modification of bitumen was 5%,10%,15% and 20% respectively. Marshall Stability and flow tests were also carried out on the crumb rubber bio-asphalt produced

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF CRUMB RUBBER –BIO-OIL MODIFIED HOT MIX ASPHALT FOR SUSTAINABLE HIGHWAY PAVEMENTS

The asphalt industry has been perpetually challenged by its hazardous emissions and its contribution to the ongoingclimate change andglobal warming crises. Likewise, the environment has been cumbered by the challenge of improper disposal of non-degradable solid wastes especially crumb rubber in form of scrap tyres resulting in serious environmental degradation. This research investigated the effect of modifying bitumen with bio-oil from cassava peels upgraded with a nondegradable polymer i.e. crumb rubber. Performance tests were carried out on the modified bitumen to evaluate its effect on its rheological properties. The percentage of bio-oil by volume used for modification of bitumen was 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. Marshall Stability and flow tests were also carried out on the bio-asphalt produced. Experimental results of bitumen modification with cassava peel oil at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% replacements showed an increment in flash point of 244°C, 250°C, 252°C & 259°C fire point of 259°C, 265°C, 269°C & 274°C and softening point values of 55°C, 55.5°C, 56.5°C & 57.5°C respectively of the base bitumen. Due to the high moisture content associated with bio-oils, properties such as ductility and viscosity were adversely affected. Upgrading with crumb rubber caused an improvement in the engineering properties of the base bitumen with penetration grade at 20% modification showed the resultant blend was 40/50 which is suitable for use on airport pavements. The highest Marshall Stability and Flow values were obtained at 20% modification with bio-oil upgraded with polymer with values of 26.5kN and 13.33mm as against 9kN and 10.5mm obtained on the controlsample. Finally, it was observed that the bio-oil could be utilized in the production of cutback bitumen due to the reduction of viscosit